Trichomonas vaginalis - Diagnosing trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis can sometimes be difficult to diagnose because symptoms are similar to those of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

If you think you may have trichomoniasis, you should visit your GP or your local genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic. Find your nearest sexual health clinic.

Some GP surgeries offer an enhanced sexual health service for diagnosing and treating STIs, but if this is not the case at your local GP surgery, it may be better to visit a GUM clinic instead because these clinics can carry out accurate tests more quickly.

In some cases, your GP may refer you to a GUM clinic for tests and treatment if they think you have trichomoniasis.

Examination

If your doctor or nurse suspects you have trichomoniasis, they will usually carry out an examination of your genital area.

In women, trichomoniasis may cause abnormal vaginal discharge or red blotches on the walls of the vagina and on the cervix (the neck of the womb).

If you are a man with suspected trichomoniasis, your doctor or nurse will examine your penis for signs of inflammation or discharge.

Laboratory testing

After a physical examination, your doctor or nurse may need to take a swab from either the vagina or penis. The swab will be analysed in a laboratory to check for signs of the trichomoniasis infection. It may take several days for the results to come back.

In men, a urine sample can also be tested for trichomoniasis.

If your doctor or nurse strongly suspects that you have trichomoniasis, you may be advised to begin a course of treatment before your results come back. This will ensure that your infection is treated as soon as possible and reduces the risk of the infection spreading. See treating trichomoniasis for more information.

Notifying sexual partners

If the test shows that you have trichomoniasis, it is very important that your current sexual partner and any other recent partners are also tested and treated. The staff at the clinic or GP surgery can discuss with you which of your sexual partners may need to be tested.

You may be given a contact slip to send or give to your partner or partners or, with your permission, the clinic can do this for you. The slip explains that they may have been exposed to an STI and suggests that they go for a check-up. It may or may not say what the infection is. It will not have your name on it, so your confidentiality is protected.

If you have had trichomoniasis and have been cured, there is no need to tell any future partners that you had it.